Sept. 23, 2001: David Teel's column on Brian Welch carrying the flag before the Virginia Tech-Rutgers game

Twenty minutes before his first collegiate start, Virginia Tech's Brian Welch thought nothing about football. Rather, he sat motionless in his locker stall and stared at an American flag.

Earlier, associate athletic director John Ballein had asked Welch to carry that flag while leading the Hokies onto the Rutgers Stadium field. It was, in Welch's mind, an awesome responsibility and privilege.

Welch, you see, lost his father 17 years ago in a terrorist attack against a United States Army barracks in Beirut. Carrying the flag Saturday, less than two weeks after thousands died in terrorist attacks in Virginia, New York and Pennsylvania, moved Welch beyond words.

"It was amazing," he said. "That meant so much to me. Football will come and go, but that will stay with me always."

Welch, a junior linebacker, marched the flag through the tunnel and to the Virginia Tech sideline. Then he proceeded to midfield for a pregame ceremony honoring those touched by Sept. 11, 2001.

The crowd observed a moment of silence, while a bugler, standing on a hill underneath a flag pole, played Taps. A Rutgers music professor sang the national anthem. The Glee Club sang "God Bless America."

Welch, again motionless, held his flag high.

And then, in a wonderful twist, on the second play from scrimmage, Welch intercepted a pass. It was the first pick of his career, and he rumbled 27 yards to Rutgers' 1-yard line.

"Let's face it," Welch said. "I'm probably the only linebacker in the country that couldn't score there."

Welch's speed, or lack thereof, was not the story Saturday. The story was two teams, indeed an entire sport and country, groping to find significance in everyday life.

"I think we were like most Americans," Tech coach Frank Beamer said after his team's 50-0 victory. "We had an empty place in our stomach and a hurt in our heart. But once the game started, I thought our guys did their best to play football at full speed."

Andre Davis caught only one pass, and that didn't occur until late in the third quarter.

The defense committed four personal fouls and drew a flag for pass interference. Special teams yielded a 15- yard pass out of punt formation and missed field goal attempts of 33 and 21 yards.

Yes, we're nit picking, especially about the defense. The Hokies smothered the Scarlet Knights' no-huddle, no- clue offense, never allowing them within 35 yards of the end zone.

And yes, there's no telling how much the prospects of war distracted the young men on both teams. But when you're ranked ninth nationally, when you strive for championships, aesthetics count.

New Rutgers coach Greg Schiano, a Jersey native, talks about "winning championships." But the truth is, these Scarlet Knights would have trouble winning a state championship against the likes of Princeton and Rowan.

This may be college football's birthplace (Rutgers defeated Princeton on Nov. 6, 1869), but the Scarlet Knights' program is on life support. Rutgers' last winning season was 1992. Its last postseason bid was the 1978 Garden State Bowl (gee, you don't think that selection was fixed, do ya?).

Its last victory against a ranked opponent was an upset of No. 15 Penn State in 1988.

Saturday marked the 10th consecutive year Tech has scored 30 or more points against Rutgers, and the aggregate from the last four meetings is 204-27. And just as a reminder: Miami routed the Scarlet Knights 61- 0 two weeks ago.

Which begs the question: How bad is Buffalo, Rutgers' season-opening victim?

We'll cut Rutgers one break: Saturday was a recipe for ugliness long before kickoff. The Scarlet Knights start a freshman, Ryan Cubit, at quarterback, and their best player, running back Dennis Thomas, missed the game with a

knee injury.

Cubit's first pass was deflected by defensive end Nathaniel Adibi. Welch couldn't help but catch it.

"That's something special for Brian," teammate Ben Taylor said. "I know his dad was really proud of him. We gave Brian the game ball."